1: Your first and surname and contact details.
Start with your name and contact details at the top of your cover letter. No need to give your postal address, but what will be important is that you do need to include your email address (that is professional) and phone number.
2: The company name and contact details.
Right under your own name and contact details, you should include the following guidelines:
- The persons name you’re writing to,
- The persons position or the name of their company,
- The Company’s or HR contact details, (The person who is going to interview you).
If you’re having trouble finding this information, you can call the company to ask who you should address your application to, or the recruitment specialist will also be able to give you this information.
You can also use ‘To whom it may concern’, but it’s best to only use this as a last resort.
3: The name of the job you’re going for:
At the start of your cover letter you need to say which job you’re applying for. (Very important)
You can do this on a line by itself (for example, ‘Regarding: Application for Warehouse Manager position’).
You can do this in the following opening paragraph (for example, ‘I am writing to apply for the recently advertised Warehouse Manager position’.)
4: A list of your relevant skills at the moment:
Include a short bullet list / brief summary about how your skills and experiences are matching the job description you are applying for.
When you’re answering a job advertisement, there can also be a possibility that it will have a list of ‘desirable’ skills and experience. Your cover letter needs to respond to all of the items on the ‘essential’ list. You should also respond to as many items as you can on the ‘desirable’ list.
Remember that if you say you have a skill or experience, you need to show how you’ve used it or how you got it. Include and explain briefly your previous work experience and how you’ve used them in your previous working experience.
5: A summary of why you’re right for the job:
After you have listed your skills and experience, you should explain why do you think you’re suited to the job (for example, ‘My ability to get along with anyone and my experience in solving problems in a manufacturing setting make me ideally suited for this job.’)
6: Speak their language:
Using the same language as people who do a particular job shows that you understand the industry or field that the employer works in.
Find out what the employer does, and how they talk about themselves. Use this language in your cover letter.
For example, if there’s a tool or software or skill the job requires, like machining tools or cash handling, mention it in your cover letter (but make sure you mention it correctly!).
7: Ask them to contact you:
Finishing of your cover letter, include by asking the employer to read your resume and also ask them to contact you about an interview.
(For example) Try something simple like, ‘I have attached a copy of my resume. I look forward to hearing from you about this job’.
Next week we will discuss what not to include in your Cover Letter.
